Journey were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame six months ago — but ever since, instead of riding high, the band has been plagued with drama.

Last week, headlines nationwide declared internal strife amongst the kings of ’80s radio due to the presidency of Donald Trump. Guitarist and founding member Neal Schon posted angrily on social media about three of his bandmates visiting the Trump White House on July 31 without him — a visit, he says, the band previously agreed not to do.

“Everybody’s entitled to like and believe what they want but when we’ve had this discussion many many times it was always a no,” Schon tweeted. “Least a heads up since it is a band and one that I started. I think Managment (sic) could let me know.”

To hear publications like Spin and Variety tell it, the band were steps away from breaking up and going their separate ways — a believable notion, as the band had gone though a previous public row two months prior, with Schon claiming that keyboardist Jonathan Cain, the band’s walking ballad factory and a practicing Christian, wanted Journey to play gospel music.

But for music journalist Joel Selvin, who covered the band for years in the pages of the San Francisco Chronicle, the members of Journey fighting with each other is nothing new. When the band was at the top of its game in the early ’80s, frontman Steve Perry exerted control over the group, leading to frequent battling. As detailed in the band’s episode of VH1’s Behind The Music, Perry was the first to eschew the band’s team dynamics, and Selvin says the band never recovered.

“They don’t like each other and they’re tied together financially. They don’t even like the band anymore,” Selvin says.

Selvin should know. One of his oldest friends is former Journey manager Walter “Herbie” Herbert, the band’s Bill Walsh, who guided them from playing jazzy prog-rock for a dedicated following to mainstream radio dominance. Before the band fired Herbert in 1993, he’d helped turn Journey into the hit factory everyone knows — pushing the band to focus on songwriting, finding Steve Perry, and setting up the business side so that their fortunes were equal to their fame. When the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame back in April, each member thanked Herbert for his work.

Now Herbert says he’s been watching the drama from afar, and is disappointed in the band’s quarreling.

“It’s a tragedy,” Herbert says. “It’s all rooted in financial issues, and it’s too bad because it could be the undoing of what is a great business.”

Herbert says the band’s problems stem from one source — Neal Schon. Herbert discovered Schon when he was 15 years old and, after bringing him into the Santana band, he helped the now-guitar hero found Journey in 1973. Herbert has stayed in touch with Schon since parting ways with the band; Schon even sent Herbert YouTube videos of singer Arnel Pineda before the Filipino phenom was brought in as vocalist in 2007. But now Herbert says Schon has taken over the “Steve Perry role” in the band, referencing the former lead singer’s divisive tenure.

“For years and years and years, I treated him like a son. Towards the end there, I would introduce him as, ‘This is Neal Schon, my son. He just didn’t turn out that well.’ It would always be good for a laugh,” Herbert says. “You know the old saying: half in jest and half serious. But then it was getting more and more serious.”

Journey has yet to reply to requests for comment. But looking at Schon’s social media posts, it appears that much of the fighting centers around Cain’s recent embrace of evangelical Christianity and his new wife Paula White, the televangelist who also serves as Trump’s spiritual adviser. Schon has posted videos and other statements critical of White, and has repeatedly stated that the band he founded “doesn’t need to be tagged with any one religion or politics.”

But Herbert says he’s welcomed Cain’s newfound evangelicalism with open arms. Herbert had issues with Cain from the moment he brought him into the group, and yet the “borderline atheist” says finding God has made the keyboardist “a better Jon Cain.”

“I’d love to be able to say the same for Neal and what he’s doing with his life,” Herbert says.

Along with bitter tweets about his feud with Cain, Schon has discussed going off to do other projects, such as a blues project with former Bad English singer John Waite. But if he breaks up Journey, Schon would lose his biggest moneymaking venture, which Herbert insists would be “stupid on steroids” considering Schon’s many financial obligations.

Currently married to his fifth wife Michaele Salahi Schon, Schon has paid millions in alimony for previous marriages. To at least one ex-wife, Amber Fazon, he confirmed payments totaling $1.3 million by 2013. Furthermore, according to Herbert, Schon’s divorce settlement with his first wife dictates that she receive half of his royalties from Journey’s best-selling greatest hits album. After getting together with Salahi in 2011, Schon settled a lawsuit by paying an undisclosed sum to his then-girlfriend, former Playmate Ava Fabian.

Selvin says he spoke with one of Schon’s accountants at a party a few years back, and was told that for every hour the guitarist works, 50 minutes of that work goes to paying his alimony. With stories like that going around, stunts like Schon’s decision to turn his 2013 wedding at the Palace of Fine Arts into a pay-per-view event start making sense. (A portion of the pay-per-view profits went to typhoon relief in the Philippines.)

“I’ve managed a dozen bands very successfully and one of the most common problems is a failure to understand commitment,” Herbert says. “That is a tough thing to manage, because they’re basically shitting the bed and wanting somebody to clean up the mess.”

Days after the articles about Journey’s impending breakup ran, Schon tweeted that he wasn’t mad anymore, and that he was merely concerned about “the band’s legacy.” But for Herbert, the public fighting is just as damaging — and if Schon really cares about the band, he says, he’ll stop quarreling with his bandmates.

“This is the mothership,” Herbert says. “Quit fucking around.”

Perry's good natured bonhomie & the world’s most charmin smile,knocked fans off their feet. Sportin a black tux,gigs came alive as he swished around the stage thrillin audiences w/ charisma that instantly burnt the oxygen right out of the venue.TR.com

Interesting article...to say the least. I was wondering when he was going to put his two cents in. Well...if Neal is your "son" the apple doesn't and couldn't fall far the tree. And I wonder who is your other sons...yep Jon Cain and Steve Perry and Gregg Rolieand Ross Valory

I had been waiting to hear what Herbie Herbert had to say about all of this. Out of everybody associated with Journey, Herbert has always seemed like a straight shooter to me, regardless if I liked what I heard from him or not. I haven't been paying attention to Neal Schon's tweets in the past week or so, In fact, just this morning, I finally turned off his tweet notifications. Seems like he's backing down, a bit, from his thoughts of wanting to gut the band and start over again. Probably realized exactly what Herbert said, 90% of his income made from performing goes to alimony, so unless he finds another huge cash cow, he'd be stupid to blow Journey up.

I'm glad to hear what Herbie said. No one knows the band dynamics better than him, even after all these years.

Hopefully Neal takes his advice, and stops being " stupid on steroids"!! Then again, if I was paying that much in alimony, I'd be putting the little wifey out to work....but definitely not as my publicist...

The injury that we do to a man must be such that we need not fear his vengeance. Steve Perry

Neal doesn't always act like it, but he is a big boy. None of this is on Herbie. Neal has made his own choices over the years from the divorces to agreeing to Perry's demands that Ross and Smith be let go. All of Neal's decisions are on Neal, not Herbie.

Neal doesn't always act like it, but he is a big boy. None of this is on Herbie. Neal has made his own choices over the years from the divorces to agreeing to Perry's demands that Ross and Smith be let go. All of Neal's decisions are on Neal, not Herbie.

yea, agree. Herbie set them up for life with the way he structured Journey and managed their production companies and assets. Nocturne was a bonafide cash cow. They had a 37% royalty rate on their evergreen catalog.

Perry's over the top "thank you" at the HOF induction is proof of that. While I don't think Neal is gonna be bagging groceries anytime soon.. he clearly has squandered some of the the gift of financial security he has. Perry's scarcity would indicate he hasn't.

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Neal doesn't always act like it, but he is a big boy. None of this is on Herbie. Neal has made his own choices over the years from the divorces to agreeing to Perry's demands that Ross and Smith be let go. All of Neal's decisions are on Neal, not Herbie.

Actually it IS! While much of the decisions were on Neal much of the MISINFORMATION is on HERBIE!!! Or have we all have now selected memory that the glorious BS'er once said of Steve: "he has them pimping for him" Him meaning Steve and them meaning Journey! When it was really...wait for it...according to this article. ..NEAL'S WIFE!!!

I always found Herbie's vitriolic commentary to be incomplete and down right untruthful. Now someone ELSE revealed the TRUTH that much of it went to Neal's 1st wife, Beth. No wonder Neal had to keep busy! HE WAS THE ONE PAYING THROUGH THE NOSE TO HIS WIFE but made it seem as IF STEVE was STEALING money from him because of what Steve negotiated. You know when you do ugly in the dark...GOD brings your reflection into the LIGHT where everyone can see it!

I wonder what the maintenance for his current wife costs? She goes to every gig, literally, every gig!Think she just hangs out in the hotel or listens to sound checks while she's in town?I can see where finances could be an issue.

Neal doesn't always act like it, but he is a big boy. None of this is on Herbie. Neal has made his own choices over the years from the divorces to agreeing to Perry's demands that Ross and Smith be let go. All of Neal's decisions are on Neal, not Herbie.

Actually it IS! While much of the decisions were on Neal much of the MISINFORMATION is on HERBIE!!! Or have we all have now selected memory that the glorious BS'er once said of Steve: "he has them pimping for him" Him meaning Steve and them meaning Journey! When it was really...wait for it...according to this article. ..NEAL'S WIFE!!!

I always found Herbie's vitriolic commentary to be incomplete and down right untruthful. Now someone ELSE revealed the TRUTH that much of it went to Neal's 1st wife, Beth. No wonder Neal had to keep busy! HE WAS THE ONE PAYING THROUGH THE NOSE TO HIS WIFE but made it seem as IF STEVE was STEALING money from him because of what Steve negotiated. You know when you do ugly in the dark...GOD brings your reflection into the LIGHT where everyone can see it!

How does this contradict anything Herbie has said on the past? It doesn't in any way. In the past when he said Perry was pimping them out is very true. Although I wouldn't use the word pimping. Perry allowed them to tour without fighting over the name for a full share of touring money. So 6 guys are getting paid while 5 guys tour and do the work. Goer deal for Perry and to be honest probably a good deal for the band. They would have had a long legal process and cost huge sums of money that in 1998, the company didn't have. I don't know how long Perry's deal was or if it is still active.

In this interview it states Neal's first wife gets 50% of the Greatest Hits money. This does not matter if they tour or not. Most divorce settlements are based on a fixed upfront payment or periodic payments based on income. If Journey didn't tour Neal would pay his settlements less.

You never know what people's financial situations are or what the motivation is. Neal clearly has big spending habits. Lambos and other things. And divorce is expensive and Jon and Ross have gone through that. Because of the success touring is not that hard for them. They generally don't end up on busses or commercial jets. Outside of phoners they don't do a lot of publicity. Hard to turn away from that much money even if it's just to pass on to the kids.

Since Neal needs money fast, this begs the question. Why doesn't he make a new album that sounds EXACTLY like classic Journey? Even if you have to borrow from old songs and tweak them a little. This is what people want to hear.

I listened to Eclipse for the first time in over a year. I love it. But if this isn't what people want, then give the people what they want. I know he wants to be creative and make something new and not rehash the old stuff, but the people love the old stuff. You have to go where the money is. If that means doing the same old same old. then YES! Do the same old same old.

Now, I am starting to believe what this article said about the band NOT even liking Journey music anymore. Maybe that is the real reason they don't kick out Evolution 2.0.

Tomulator wrote:You people are totally underestimating the fact that Perry's voice was a HUGE part of the success of those albums...Journey does NOT have a "Steve Perry" as there is only ONE.

It ain't that easy to just "copy" past successes...if they COULD...they WOULD.

Not without Perry.

Well over the years, we've seen/heard what results SP's input has produced with Cain/Schon.And over the years, we've seen/heard the Cain/Schon alone collaboration and what ithas produced.Seems like if you want the old Journey sound again, it ain't happening unless it'sall three again.They did come close with 2 or 3 songs, but that brass ring just ain't there anymore.

Perry's good natured bonhomie & the world’s most charmin smile,knocked fans off their feet. Sportin a black tux,gigs came alive as he swished around the stage thrillin audiences w/ charisma that instantly burnt the oxygen right out of the venue.TR.com

Tomulator wrote:You people are totally underestimating the fact that Perry's voice was a HUGE part of the success of those albums...Journey does NOT have a "Steve Perry" as there is only ONE.

It ain't that easy to just "copy" past successes...if they COULD...they WOULD.

Not without Perry.

Well over the years, we've seen/heard what results SP's input has produced with Cain/Schon.And over the years, we've seen/heard the Cain/Schon alone collaboration and what ithas produced.Seems like if you want the old Journey sound again, it ain't happening unless it'sall three again.They did come close with 2 or 3 songs, but that brass ring just ain't there anymore.

Cain has said as much, too.

In all honesty, how many bands of this age have hits anymore? So if Perry came back and they did an album...it'd get some interest simply because of Perry coming back, but I doubt it would be topping the charts with hit after hit. Older acts just don't do that for the most part.

They would certainly make more money. They could tour and sell the same amount of tickets they do now, but they would bring a lot more $$ per ticket with Perry, no doubt about that, either. But selling records...new records? I don't see that at all.

How does this contradict anything Herbie has said on the past? It doesn't in any way. In the past when he said Perry was pimping them out is very true. Although I wouldn't use the word pimping. Perry allowed them to tour without fighting over the name for a full share of touring money. So 6 guys are getting paid while 5 guys tour and do the work. Goer deal for Perry and to be honest probably a good deal for the band. They would have had a long legal process and cost huge sums of money that in 1998, the company didn't have. I don't know how long Perry's deal was or if it is still active.

In this interview it states Neal's first wife gets 50% of the Greatest Hits money. This does not matter if they tour or not. Most divorce settlements are based on a fixed upfront payment or periodic payments based on income. If Journey didn't tour Neal would pay his settlements less.

You never know what people's financial situations are or what the motivation is. Neal clearly has big spending habits. Lambos and other things. And divorce is expensive and Jon and Ross have gone through that. Because of the success touring is not that hard for them. They generally don't end up on busses or commercial jets. Outside of phoners they don't do a lot of publicity. Hard to turn away from that much money even if it's just to pass on to the kids.[/quote] Because Herbie made it sound as if Steve was the one and only cause for the band's financial woes. While he did mention IN PASSING that Neal has a problem with his money he blamed so much on Steve that it was just comical. BUT y'all are giving too much credit to Herbie for bringing this to everyone's attention when it was really...the author this article...and don't forget that NEAL was angry at Perry for getting what was rightfully due him when he should have taken that anger and channeled it on getting MARRIAGE counseling!!!

How does this contradict anything Herbie has said on the past? It doesn't in any way. In the past when he said Perry was pimping them out is very true. Although I wouldn't use the word pimping. Perry allowed them to tour without fighting over the name for a full share of touring money. So 6 guys are getting paid while 5 guys tour and do the work. Goer deal for Perry and to be honest probably a good deal for the band. They would have had a long legal process and cost huge sums of money that in 1998, the company didn't have. I don't know how long Perry's deal was or if it is still active.

In this interview it states Neal's first wife gets 50% of the Greatest Hits money. This does not matter if they tour or not. Most divorce settlements are based on a fixed upfront payment or periodic payments based on income. If Journey didn't tour Neal would pay his settlements less.

You never know what people's financial situations are or what the motivation is. Neal clearly has big spending habits. Lambos and other things. And divorce is expensive and Jon and Ross have gone through that. Because of the success touring is not that hard for them. They generally don't end up on busses or commercial jets. Outside of phoners they don't do a lot of publicity. Hard to turn away from that much money even if it's just to pass on to the kids.

Because Herbie made it sound as if Steve was the one and only cause for the band's financial woes. While he did mention IN PASSING that Neal has a problem with his money he blamed so much on Steve that it was just comical. BUT y'all are giving too much credit to Herbie for bringing this to everyone's attention when it was really...the author this article...and don't forget that NEAL was angry at Perry for getting what was rightfully due him when he should have taken that anger and channeled it on getting MARRIAGE counseling!!!

Tomulator wrote:You people are totally underestimating the fact that Perry's voice was a HUGE part of the success of those albums...Journey does NOT have a "Steve Perry" as there is only ONE.

It ain't that easy to just "copy" past successes...if they COULD...they WOULD.

Not without Perry.

Oh my G.O.D. Thank you Tomulator! They underestimate Steve's contribution CONSISTENTLY. It is sickening. Good grief people! Not only his voice but his contributions in songwriting and arrangements and lyrics. Either get ginkgo biloba or go get more sleep.

Tomulator wrote:You people are totally underestimating the fact that Perry's voice was a HUGE part of the success of those albums...Journey does NOT have a "Steve Perry" as there is only ONE.

It ain't that easy to just "copy" past successes...if they COULD...they WOULD.

Not without Perry.

Oh my G.O.D. Thank you Tomulator! They underestimate Steve's contribution CONSISTENTLY. It is sickening. Good grief people! Not only his voice but his contributions in songwriting and arrangements and lyrics. Either get ginkgo biloba or go get more sleep.

It's not just Perry's voice, either. It's his phrasing, his inflection. Prime example is Wheel in the Sky. Listen to the Fleischman version...that would have NEVER done anything. Perry made all the difference on that song, simply by singing it HIS way. Hell, Fleischman doesn't even sing it his original way anymore now...he sings it more like Perry did.

Perry is THE reason that Journey took off. Without him, they were destined to be on the level of a Foghat or Nazareth.

But Perry entered, Rolie left, that brought Cain and started the magic. It's a combination of all, but Perry's voice is the prime mover, with Cain's writing a strong second that made Journey what it is.

JourneyHard wrote:Since Neal needs money fast, this begs the question. Why doesn't he make a new album that sounds EXACTLY like classic Journey? Even if you have to borrow from old songs and tweak them a little. This is what people want to hear.

I listened to Eclipse for the first time in over a year. I love it. But if this isn't what people want, then give the people what they want. I know he wants to be creative and make something new and not rehash the old stuff, but the people love the old stuff. You have to go where the money is. If that means doing the same old same old. then YES! Do the same old same old.

Now, I am starting to believe what this article said about the band NOT even liking Journey music anymore. Maybe that is the real reason they don't kick out Evolution 2.0.

Yup, this is the point of view I was waiting to hear. While I am in favor of Cain doing his own thing and taking off in favor of a potential Rolie return, its kind of funny that Neal is now backpedaling. I've thought a shake up in the band was long overdue after following them for more than half of my adult life. SOMETHING will probably come of all this.....but I can't see the time frame of taking a year off from touring will happen since Neal needs to pay those four alimony payments in addition to whatever his current wife needs. lol

Tomulator wrote:You people are totally underestimating the fact that Perry's voice was a HUGE part of the success of those albums...Journey does NOT have a "Steve Perry" as there is only ONE.

It ain't that easy to just "copy" past successes...if they COULD...they WOULD.

Not without Perry.

Oh my G.O.D. Thank you Tomulator! They underestimate Steve's contribution CONSISTENTLY. It is sickening. Good grief people! Not only his voice but his contributions in songwriting and arrangements and lyrics. Either get ginkgo biloba or go get more sleep.

It's not just Perry's voice, either. It's his phrasing, his inflection. Prime example is Wheel in the Sky. Listen to the Fleischman version...that would have NEVER done anything. Perry made all the difference on that song, simply by singing it HIS way. Hell, Fleischman doesn't even sing it his original way anymore now...he sings it more like Perry did.

Perry is THE reason that Journey took off. Without him, they were destined to be on the level of a Foghat or Nazareth.

But Perry entered, Rolie left, that brought Cain and started the magic. It's a combination of all, but Perry's voice is the prime mover, with Cain's writing a strong second that made Journey what it is.

I don't understand how this thread became a Perry or bust thread. That topic is as dead as Perry's touring career.

"I think we should all sue this women for depriving us of our God given right to go down with a clear mind, and good thoughts." - Stu, Consumate Pussy Eater